Knightdale closes investigation of former police chief

Pope, 49, of 567 Mailman Road, was granted early retirement on July 28 after he was charged with one count of assault on a female. The charge stemmed from a domestic dispute with his estranged wife.

Kimberly Smith Pope, 38, of 923 Costmary Road, was also charged with one count of simple assault in the incident.

Kimberly Pope told WRAL News that she walked in on Richard Pope with another woman, who is a Knightdale employee.

The town attorney looked into whether any policies were violated, and officials interviewed other employees and reviewed e-mail records, Town Manager Gary McConkey said. No wrongdoing was found, and the investigation was closed, he said.

Richard Pope joined the Knightdale Police Department in 1979 and was named chief in March 2006. Knightdale is searching for his replacement.